Reviews by woodychandler:

This struck me as a great place for public transit riders and/or sports fans, given its proximity to both Newark's Penn Station and Prudential Center. I had come up on the train for a Pens/Devs game so this was a perfect stop on my way into the game.

Since it was early, only the downstairs bar was open, but that was okay by me because they were serving and that is what counts. The 5/8ths of an octagon-shaped, laminated blonde wood bar was off to the left, inside the door, past a satellite jukebox. The back bar was mirrors fronted by shelves for liquor above a bank of four three-shelved coolers containing approximately 110 bottles, followed by a stand-alone cooler filled with another 50 or so beers. The kitchen was just past the end of the bar, to the extreme left. The lavs were to the right of the end of the bar. Along the right wall were a series of standard restaurant tables and chairs fronting, from front to rear, a pair of "Century Club" boards, followed by four chalkboards which listed their available beers. The bar held two towers of mostly standard imports and macros, but the few draws were Sam Adams and a house ale brewed by the local Budweiser plant.

Service: We had a good, unobtrusive server and I was given a printed list of their beers for perusal.

Food: Lunch was stuffed mushrooms as an appetizer followed by fish tacos. Not Rubio's, but satisfactory.

More User Reviews:

I know this place well, and I think it is kinda funny that it is in here. It is really more of a family run little restaurant that tries to have a good bit of imports to suit their menu. Great place with a xozy warm atmosphere and great food. The beer list is nothing spectacular but again suits it well. Friendly people and a wonderful atmosphere ae what makes it though. I would not really recommend the place on beer alone, but to stop in for lunch you will not be dissapointed, really just a nice place to eat.

The atmosphere is a bit of a combo of a neighborhood bar and an Italian/Portuguese restaurant. I sat at the bar downstairs as that's where the chalkboard beer list was and I was by myself so that's were I usually eat.

They have some quality beers, but the majority of their list is mass produced beers from around the world. The list is not always up to date and I get the feeling that only the lady that is either the manager, the owner, or both knows anything about beer and about what they carry. They were out of the first three choices I tried which were Stone Ruination, Stone RIS, and Stone IPA. So I went with a Flying Fish Pale Ale, which was either old or always has a bit of diacytle to it. Then it was a Stone Pale ale which was good. Then the lady behind the bar started digging for Ruination that she was sure she had. She went to the back and found a six pack that was warm and restocked the fridge. So after the Stone Pale, I had a cellar temp Ruination. Turns out that beer is still very good even at cellar temp. Oh and the aroma comes out full blast full of orange peel/zest.

Food was pretty good and the menu is fairly broad. I had a good chicken sandwich.

Very reasonable pricing on the food and the beer. Especially for downtown Newark.

I've been here a few times since I work a block away, and it's a favorite destination for after work drinks.

Atmosphere is nice - downstairs has your typical neighborhood bar feel. Upstairs, when open, is a bigger open room with more setting, a pool table, and some TVs. Plenty of Soccer decor as this place is in the Portuguese heavy Ironbound section of Newark.

Food is good - pretty standard stuff but tasty. Service is about average. Beer selection is well hidden - the taps downstairs are better. Bottled selection is solid, but you can only see what they have when you are downstairs by the bar. Asking is a good idea. Prices are fair.

Easily the best place for beer in the area, outdoing the new Irish bar a few blocks away. A perfect spot to grab some food and a beer before heading to the arena.

Bellos is a fantastic place given that it is located in the middle of beer desert...Newark, NJ. There are no other places in the immediate area that offer a better selection of beers because I have been looking.

That being said, it's not the best beer bar I have ever been to, but it's a great neighborhood place. The food is actually pretty good, and the portions are large. I haven't had anything past the Nachos, which are damn fine, but they have a full on menu of pub grub, sandwiches, etc.

The tap lineup is nothing special, outside of getting a Bass or Sam Adams seasonal, there's not anything that would be considered "craft". However, the bottle list is full of really great stuff. See random bottle sampling below: Harpoon IPABrooklyn Lager and BrownAnchor Xmas, Porter, Steam, LibertyMagic Hat 9, Circus BoySierra Nevada Pale, Porter, StoutFranziskaner HefeweissenBeamish stout (can)Plus a lot of other stuff.

You get the picture...def. nothing that one would consider "rare" or hard to get overall. But for Newark, these indeed rare and hard to get.

The owner often tends bar, and really makes an effort to know about the beers that he serves. Service has never been disappointing, and it's always a welcoming environment! Exact glassware might be lacking on occassion, but still are able to enjoy a wheat beer in its proper glass.

Edit to my original review: Bellos has updated their bottle list, and includes quite a few harder to get foreign and domestic brews in NJ. For example, Ruination and Aventinus.

Also, you will definitely get the glass of your choice, Duvel tulip, Chimay chalice, and also several wheat beer glasses. Woohoo!